A Farmers Life During the Great Depression

In 1933, the New Deal legislation attempted to reduce agricultural overproduction, by passing the AAA and paying farmers to reduce planting and get rid of livestock. In 1936 the Supreme Court Ruled the AAA unconstitutional.

Passed in 1935 by FDR, the REA was to bring power to 80% of the nations farms that did not have electricity.

By 1930, farmers in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas had exhausted their soil and a long drought set in. This created a prolonged environmental disaster and led to widespread dust storms.

The New Deal Legislation tried to alleviate some of the difficulties, however this mostly only helped the large farm owners and tenant farmers and sharecroppers were often evicted.

The Dust Bowl had caused many farmers to flee their farmland and head to the cities, farmers who fled were given this name.

Many of the farmers who migrated to the city found it very difficult to find jobs and were referred to as "Okies" by the people of the city who saw them as inferior.